Die structure



June 28, 1966 L. R. TREINlS DIE STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 4:, 1964 BY WM 6M1ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,258,268 DIE STRUCTURE Leonard R.Treinis, 1 Damson Lane, Valley Stream, N.Y. Filed Nov. 4, 1964, Ser. No.408,977 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-146) This invention relates to a diestructure, and particularly to a casting die structure, such as iscommonly used in conjunction with childrens games and games of chance.

More particularly, this invention relates to an inexpensive diestructure which may be frabricated by the user.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a die structurecomprising a cardboard blank, foldable to the configuration of a cube,and a weighted filler member therefor, the structure having theadvantage of being supplied in the form of a blank together with anauxiliary weight member, the same being assembled as desired by foldingthe blank to the form of a cube and inserting the weighted portionbefore final assembly.

This invention further relates to a light Weight, readily fabricable diefor rolling, having a novel structure which enables the die to tumble inthe manner of a conventional solid die, notwithstanding the weight ofthe completed die structure is considerably less than that of aconventional die.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a die, readilyassembled from inexpensive materials, which will roll and exhibit thecharacteristics typically associated with usual solid die structures.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a cardboard blank capable of being folded tothe configuration of a cube;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a partially assembled die structure;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a completed die structure in accordance withthe invention;

FIGURE 4 is a magnified cross section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention as shown in FIG- URE 1, a blank 10 ofpaper, cardboard or the like, is foldable to the configuration of acube. The blank includes a central square side D having common marginaledges with the square sides I, U, E and R. Optionally but preferably,side web portions 11, 12, 13 and 14 are disposed between the marginaledges, respectively, of the sides U-E, E-R, R-J and J-U. Additionally,outwardly disposed marginal edges 16 and 17 of the sides U, R,respectively, are provided with interlocking flap members 18, 19,respectively, including locking notches 20, 21, respectively. To theouter marginal end 22 of the side E, there is disposed the sixth cubeside S, the side S including at its outer marginal edge 23, a lockingflap 24.

The Web member 11, 12, 13, 14 are optionally but preferably providedwith central score lines 30, extending radially outwardly from thejunction of the cube sides to which the webs are attached, the scorelines 30 bisecting the webs.

In addition, the marginal demarcation between each of the sides andflaps is preferably similarly formed with a score line to facilitateaccurate folding of the side portions, flaps, etc.

It will be readily understood that certain of the score lines will beformed on one side of the blank sheet or the other, depending upon thedesired direction of folding, the score line of course being formed onthe side away from the direction of fold.

The blank is folded to the partially formed condition shown in FIGURE 2by first folding the webs 11, 12 along the diagonal score lines 30 in aninward direction so that the webs lie entirely within the formed cube.Next the faces U and R are bent perpendicular to the face D, andthereafter the notches 20, 21 of locking flaps 18, 19, respectively, areinterlocked.

The foregoing operations have resulted in the formation of a partiallycompleted box, shown in FIGURE 2. At this point, a 'weighted member 31,preferably in the form of a sphere, is inserted in the partially formedcube structure. It is an important feature of the present invention thatthe diameter of the spherical insert 31 exceed by at least a smallamount the dimension of the sides of the cube.

From the foregoing described relationship, it will be appreciated thatthe insertion of the spherical weighted member 31, which may comprise amarble, for instance, will serve outwardly to bow the surrounding wallportions of the cube. The oversize nature of the insert will maintainthis member against shifting movement within the cube, which stablizinginfluence will be augmented by the contact of the spherical member 31with the inwardly folded webs 11, 12.

The assembly is completed by subsequently folding the webs 14, 13inwardly along score lines 30, 30, thereby to bring side I of the cubeinto its appropriate perpendicular position with respect to sides U andR of the cube. Thereafter, closure flap 24 may be inserted into thespace defined between the inner face of side I of the cube and theinwardly folded flaps 13 and 14. When the flap 34 is inserted in themanner aforesaid, the slightly oversized spherical member 31 causes abowing of the side I and the flap 24, due to the outward pressureagainst these parts, said outward pressure serving to maintain a bowedfrictional engagement of the flap and the face I, thereby markedlyreducing the tendency of the flap to spring open when the die is beingused.

Preferably the weight of the spherical insert 31 is greater by a ratioof at least about 3:1 than the weight of the cardboard structure in'which it is enclosed.

A further important feature of the invention lies in the outwardly bowedconformation assumed by the sides of the die when the oversize sphericalweight 31 is disposed therein.

In die casting games, a considerable portion of the attractiveness ofthe playing of the game is occasioned by the suspense which results froma relatively prolonged tumbling of the die after it is cast. While suchtumbling may be readily achieved with a heavy, solid die structurenotwithstanding a perfect cubed formation thereof, I have discoved thatthe relatively light construction which results from the formation of apaper cube will not tumble in a desired manner, even when the same ischarged with a weight, such as a marble, unless the mass of said weightis considerable. I have discovered that notwithstanding the lightness ofconstruction, a generally cubeshaped die formed of a paper or cardboardblank and charged with a relatively light spherical mass, may be made totumble in the manner of a typical die structure if the diameter of thespherical member exceeds the length of the sides of the cube faces. Aswill be perceived from the drawings, the cube charged with the oversizedsphere deforms the side walls from the normal, fiat condition thereof,and I have discovered that this slight rounding of the side wallsimparts the desired tumbling action.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the provision of theoversized spherical insert functions (a) to prevent any rattling orrelative movement of the insert with respect to the completed die; (b)by the outward pressure exerted by the spherical member, securely tolock the closing and locking flaps against accidental displacement; and(c) to deform the side walls of the die to augment its tumblingproperties, as previously specified.

The invention is not to be taken as limited to the specific formillustrated, but rather, should be interpreted broadly within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what isclaimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A die structure for a childs game or the like comprising a lightweight blank member folded to the form of a cube, a flap closure tuckedinto said structure and lying in a position inwardly to lap one face ofsaid cube, web portions connecting said side of said cube with adjacentsides of said cube, said web portions inwardly lapping said flap, and aspherical member disposed within said cube, the diameter of saidspherical member exceeding the length of each side of said cube, wherebythe sides of said cube structure containing said member are outwardlybowed and said flap member is pressed outwardly toward the inner surfaceof said face by a tangent portion of said spherical member.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web portions includefold edges in common with adjacent side portions of the sides of saidcube, said web portions, in the folded condition of said cube, beingdisposed within said cube in engagement with said spherical member, saidengagement augmenting the anchored relationsliip of said sphericalmember within said cube.

3. A readily tumbled die structure for a childs game or the like,comprising a cardboard member folded to define a hollow cube, aspherical member disposed within said cube, the diameter of saidspherical member exceeding the length of each side of said cube wherebya central portion of the inner edge of each side of said cube engages atangent of said spherical member and is thereby outwardly bowed, tofacilitate tumbling, and means releasably holding said cube in foldedcondition.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the weight of saidspherical member is at least three times the weight of the cardboardcomponents of said die.

5. A readily tumbled die structure for use as a childs toy or the likecomprising a cardboard blank folded to define a cube, indicia on theouter faces of the sides of said cube and a weighted member disposedwithin said cube, said weighted member being of a size to engage againstcentral portions of each of said sides and outwardly how each of thesides of said cube from a normally flat configuration to a curvedconfiguration, thereby to facilitate rolling of said cube structure, andmeans holding said cube in a folded condition.

6. A die in accordance with claim 5 wherein the blank forming said cubeis secured together exclusively by friction and interlocking portions onsaid die, and said means includes a flap member inwardly lapping a sideof said cube, and said flap member is maintained in said lapped positionby the outward bowing force exerted by said weight member against saidflap member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,642,901 9/ 1927Srofe 46-24 2,262,749 11/ 1941 Berwald 20646 2,3 15,164 3/1943 Schiller46-11 X FOREIGN PATENTS 958,545 9/ 1949 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

5. A READILY TUMBLED DIE STRUCTURE FOR USE AS A CHILD''S TOY OR THE LIKECOMPRISING A CARDBOARD BLANK FOLDED TO DEFINE A CUBE, INDICIA ON THEOUTER FACES OF THE SIDES OF SAID CUBE AND WEIGHTED MEMBER DISPOSEDWITHIN SAID CUBE, SAID WEIGHTED MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID AGAINSTCENTRAL PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID SIDES AND OUTWARDLY BOW EACH OF THESIDES OF SAID CUBE FROM A NORMALLY FLAT CONFIGURATION TO A CURVEDCONFIGURATION, THEREBY TO FACILITATE ROLLING OF SAID CUBE STRUCTURE, ANDMEANS HOLDING SAID CUBE IN A FOLDED CONDITION.